We don’t need to tell you who ASICS are. They’ve formed a key part of the sneaker landscape ever since their early days as Onitsuka Tiger. The name ASICS is an acronym meaning anima sana in corpore sano, Latin for ‘A sound mind in a sound body’. Here’s another Latin phrase you might know, carpe diem. Recently, mesh runners have exploded in popularity, and since that design language is ASICS’s bread and butter, they’ve seized the moment like no other brand could. Here’s a selection of some of their hottest models.
Gel-Kayano 14
This model needs no introduction at this point. The Kayano 14 reentered the scene in a big way with its 2022 JJJJound collab. Since then, it’s become one of the flagship mesh runners, with GR colourways continuing to sell out.
Gel-Kayano 20
Following the 14, the Kayano 20 has started to make a comeback in the past few months, with notable collaborations from KENZO and Kiko Kostadinov. Most of the upper comes in lightweight mesh, while the secure FLUIDFIT overlays form a unique, architecture-inspired look.
Gel-NYC
The Gel-NYC was first introduced back in 2023 and has already become one of Asic’s most popular lifestyle models. Taking influences from a number of the brand’s legacy models, the NYC debuted in collaboration with Awake NY. This relationship to New York continued, with 2024’s Photoshop-inspired Hidden NY collab charting on several Sneaker of the Year lists.
Gel-Venture 6 Shield
The Shield is a special outdoor-ready update to the Gel-Venture 6 model, kitting it out with a ripstop upper and TPU overlays. If we’re talking about this pair, we have to give a second shoutout to Hidden NY. The New York label kicked off the year with a clean white.
Gel-1130
The beloved budget model. The 1130 followed up the Kayano 14’s massive splash, with its comfort, classic mesh runner looks, and lower price point guaranteeing ASICS a massive spot on the lifestyle scene.
GT-2160
The GT-2160 has caught on as a sleeker version of the design language made popular by the Kayano 14 and 1130. It didn’t hurt that it also got some clean collaborations from Dime and JJJJound.
Gel-Kinetic Fluent
The Gel-Kinetic Fluent is the latest running model that ASICS is reintroducing to the scene. The upper comes in the classic mix of mesh and synthetic overlays, while the sole stands out with bulbous Gel cushioning pods in the heel.
Check out the full range of ASICS sneakers available on the KLEKT App.
